588 



however, shew that they are not homogeneous, but that the 

 line is inadhesive, while the globules are (and so remain) con- 

 tinually adhesive, being, in fact, like £ perforated beads threaded 

 upon a string ; and the line itsolf may be distinctly seen under 

 a highly magnifying power, running through tho globules. I 

 havo but little doubt that Major Lang's supposition of their being 

 deposited upon the cross-lines by the central pair of spinners, 

 as tho line itself is spun out from anothor spinner, or pair of 

 spinners, is correct. 



Jin all probability, these bead-like globules suggested tho name of the 

 genus {Epeira). Various derivations of this word have been given by 

 Araneologists, but none has over appeared to mo at all satisfactory. In 

 the absence, therefore, of any direct evidence on the subject, I would sug- 

 gest that Epeira is derived from epi upon, and tiro " to join in rows in 

 a connected series, as to string beads or pearls." The word giro has, 

 however, another meaning of " to weave " simply, which may therefore be 

 that intended, as merely signifjing tho weaving powers of theso spiders ; in 

 this ease epi would be intensive. This latter moaning does not however seem 

 to me as appropriate as tho former, inasmuch as spiders of tho Genus Epeira 

 do not generally weave (in its proper sense) like the Drassidcs and others, 

 but simply spin lines in a geometric form. 



